Dingxiang Marquis hurriedly returned home.
“That woman poisoned A-Ling,” the Old Madam lamented bitterly, her cane striking the ground with sharp cracks. “That poor child, wrongfully accused and driven out of the Hou Manor—how much suffering she must have endured!”
Qu Cheng, the Dingxiang Marquis, held the position of Minister of Personnel.
Though a civil official, he carried an imposing presence.
“Is what Mother says true?” he asked Song Shi with exceptional coldness.
“No,” Song Shi, still stinging from the Old Madam’s blows, stubbornly denied. “I never intended to harm the Eldest Young Lady.”
She sobbed, “Marquis, if I wanted her dead, I would have taken her life directly. Why would I use such an easily traceable method?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” the Old Madam interjected sharply. “You fear the Princess.”
Years ago, when Empress Dowager Song poisoned Zhao Yuanrong, the Princess’s daughter, the Princess directly seized the Crown Prince, holding a blade to his neck. “If Mother insists on killing my daughter, I’ll kill the Emperor’s son!”
Zhao Yuanrong carried the Princess’s surname, with her biological father unknown.
Empress Dowager Song viewed this as a disgrace to the imperial family and repeatedly sought to eliminate her.
Only after that incident did she relent.
“If you dare kill A-Ling, the Princess will dare kill Lianzhi,” the Old Madam continued. “Xu Zhaoyue died in difficult childbirth after taking poison meant for Zhao Yuanrong.”
Song Shi wished she could tear the old hag’s mouth apart.
At the mention of Xu Zhaoyue, a barely perceptible flicker of emotion passed through Qu Cheng’s eyes.
His gaze toward Song Shi grew several degrees colder. “Personally go bring A-Ling back. Give up Nuanshan Residence for her.”
After a pause, he added, “Next time, I will not forgive.”
“Nuanshan Residence is Lianzhi’s quarters!” Song Shi felt as if vomiting blood, her voice trembling noticeably.
Why should that wretched girl get it!
The Old Madam didn’t let her off. “Nuanshan Residence was originally prepared by Xu Zhaoyue for A-Ling. You’re just a cuckoo occupying the magpie’s nest.”
Unfortunately, Xu Zhaoyue died early.
One month after her death, Empress Dowager Song arranged the marriage, and three months later, Song Shi married in.
Qu Lianzhi was only one year younger than Qu Ling, so naturally, the best things never went to Qu Ling.
“Marquis, Lianzhi is also your daughter,” Song Shi protested indignantly. “You can’t treat her this way!”
Qu Cheng grew impatient and waved his hand. “If you’re unwilling to give it up, take her back to the Song Family for a while.”
Song Shi’s weeping ceased abruptly, her face turning deathly pale.
The Old Madam felt thoroughly satisfied.
Relying on her maternal family’s influence to domineer in the manor—this high-born daughter-in-law was truly unpleasant.
Over the years, the Old Madam often missed Xu Zhaoyue’s gentle deference, which had allowed her to play the mother-in-law role fully.
“Once you’ve thought it through, come with me to the Princess Manor to bring A-Ling back,” Qu Cheng said, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression cold.
He didn’t forget to warn, “The Princess is ruthless in her methods. Even His Highness the Crown Prince avoids crossing her. Be more reasonable and don’t cause trouble for me.”
His words struck Song Shi like slaps across the face.
One after another, they flushed her cheeks with shame and anger.
“I understand,” Song Shi forced herself to rise.
The capital’s residents witnessed quite the spectacle that day.
First, people from the Princess Manor and Capital Prefecture entered the Dingxiang Marquis Manor.
Then they dragged out a bound matron.
Soon after, the Dingxiang Marquis returned home.
Within the time it takes for several incense sticks to burn, he set out by carriage with the Marquise toward the Princess Manor.
Qu Ling watched as two sturdy matrons in the Princess Manor placed a hemp rope around Matron Cao’s neck.
The Princess sat elevated at the front; she had no intention of making Qu Ling leave.
“Miss, please spare this old servant.” Granny Cao’s voice was hoarse and tearful, her hands struggling desperately.
The Princess’s gaze fell upon Qu Ling.
She had expected Qu Ling to plead for mercy.
Instead, she heard Qu Ling say, “You weren’t the one who harmed me.”
Granny Cao seemed to grasp at a lifeline, “This old servant wouldn’t dare harm you, I…”
She didn’t dare continue – her son was still in the Marquise’s clutches.
“Song Shi holds a noble status and cannot die, so you must die in her place,” Qu Ling approached and crouched before Granny Cao, meeting her eyes. “After you die, remember to become a vengeful spirit and haunt her – she’s the one who killed you.”
Finally, she added in a low voice, “I’ll send your son to join you soon.”
Granny Cao’s eyes widened, her lips trembling as she stammered, “You… you… what do you mean?”
“Proceed.” Qu Ling stood up, looking down at her with utmost indifference.
Upon hearing this, the two matrons immediately tightened the hemp ropes in their hands.
Granny Cao’s hands desperately clawed at the noose around her neck.
Her face gradually turned crimson, eyes bulging, until she slowly ceased struggling and collapsed to the ground, her death appearance horrifying.
The bloody scene before her was blocked, leaving only the scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.
The Princess’s voice came from behind her, “Don’t look.”
Qu Ling leaned against the Princess, “I want to see the fear and unease on evil people’s faces when they die.”
How could she not look?
In her previous life, this loyal old dog Granny Cao had ordered the courtyard maids to torment her.
Pouring water on cotton quilts, placing porcelain shards in shoes, hiding needles in collars, adding spoiled water to meals…
When she protested, she would only receive reprimands.
No one believed her.
The inner household was controlled by Song Shi.
She could only see Qu Cheng on limited occasions.
During their rare meetings, she could only weep and complain.
When Qu Cheng questioned Song Shi, she would weep and claim the young miss hated her.
Song Shi personally led Qu Cheng to see for himself.
Exquisite pastries, obedient maids, newly made clothes, flourishing courtyard flowers.
Qu Cheng thought his daughter was being unreasonable.
When Qu Ling continued crying, he only felt disgust.
“Your Highness, Dingxiang Marquis has come to fetch Miss Qu,” someone reported.
The Princess said coldly, “Have him come see me.”
When Qu Cheng entered the Princess Manor, he saw a girl who strikingly resembled Xu Zhaoyue nestled in the Princess’s embrace.
His chest warmed with indescribable emotions surging within him.
A’Zhao’s daughter had grown so much.
“Your humble official pays respects to Your Highness the Princess.” Qu Cheng bowed with Song Shi.
Song Shi’s gaze swept over Granny Cao’s gruesome corpse with bulging eyes, and she felt dizzy.
Pain and anger mingled within her.
“This Princess previously only thought the Marquis incompetent in official matters, but it seems you’re equally incompetent in managing your household.” The Princess’s words were sharp as knives, making Qu Cheng’s face turn ashen.
“Your humble official acknowledges his fault.”
Qu Cheng didn’t dare retort.
Recently, the Princess had been frequently demoting and exiling officials, confiscating properties and executing people.
Since the Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage, Dingxiang Marquis Manor had belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, so naturally the Princess viewed him unfavorably.
“Merely acknowledging fault is useless,” the Princess snorted coldly. “How will you compensate for the suffering A’Ling has endured?”
Qu Cheng’s gaze fell upon his daughter, his tone gentle, “A’Ling, do you still remember your father?”
He felt somewhat guilty – he had wronged Qu Ling in the past.
“Your father wrongly blamed you, it was my fault,” he showed a loving smile. “Come home with your father, you can make any request you wish.”
Qu Ling suppressed the urge to tear apart his hypocritical face and spoke softly, “Then can you divorce your wife? I’m afraid of her. With her at home, I don’t dare return.”
Song Shi’s mind exploded as she cried out uncontrollably, “Eldest Miss, I’ve always treated you as my own child! Why do you always hold such hostility toward me?”